VOLUME 2 Chapter 2: Separation Anxiety and Shattered Illusions.
The moment the carriage door creaked open, a fresh wind swept into the velvet-lined cabin like a cool slap across the face. Eri Onee-san stepped out first, her every movement composed and elegant—like she hadn't just endured twenty minutes of juvenile warfare between two noble brats.
Her long black hair swayed gently with the breeze, catching the morning sunlight like ink in motion. The glint of her formal head maid uniform gave her an almost knightly presence, a shadow of the Countess that watched and moved in her place.
Aiko let out an annoyed puff, standing to follow her retainer without a word, but—
"Move it or lose it," Hitoshi muttered, brushing past Aiko without so much as a glance.
"Huh—?!" Aiko stumbled back a step, catching herself on the seat. "You—!"
But the door had already shut behind the boy, leaving her gaping like someone had just dumped soup in her lap.
Her nails curled into her palms. "Stupid commoner rat!" she hissed, practically stomping after him. "Who walks past a noble lady like that?!"
Outside, the academy grounds spread wide before them like something from a painting—an imperial dream locked in opulent stones and sprawling green. The main gate alone was a sight to behold: an arching structure of black iron and silver filigree that twisted into the shape of entwining roses. Beyond that, a cobblestone path wound toward a magnificent, towering building with steepled roofs and spiraled towers.
The Nightwood Academy.
An architectural blend of the late 1800s and early magical renaissance—a place built to educate the finest minds, mages, warriors, and nobles across the land. Statues of archmages and sainted warriors lined the path, each bearing a different crest, their blank gazes watching the next generation enter through the iron gates with varying degrees of nerves and pride.
Servants carried luggage. Nobles in extravagant attire stood by their children, whispering blessings and reminders. Some youths walked alone, some with guards.
Among them, Hitoshi spotted a few strange figures that looked out of place. One was a petite goblin girl in modest hand-sewn robes, clutching her books to her chest and trying not to trip over her own feet. The other was a tall boy with stark white hair and smoldering eyes, his fists clenched with stubborn resolve as he walked alone toward the academy's entrance.
Besides the two of them, scattered throughout the entrance grounds were, pairs and trios of children laughing or pointing at the various magical creatures soaring overhead. Floating golems, messenger familiars, and enchanted carriages either descending from the clouds, appearing on sight or coming to a stop at the academy entrance.
Hitoshi stood there, jaw slack and eyes huge.
"Whoa…" he whispered.
His little hands clenched into fists against the sides of his vest. His chest rose with barely-contained excitement as he took in the sheer scale of it all—the stained glass windows, the pointed spires, the banners waving proudly in the wind. This wasn't any average school, in his eyes, it looked like a castle straight out of a picture book.
"Do you hear me, you arrogant worm?!" Aiko shouted beside him, her voice sharp and layered with indignation. "I'm talking to you, you peasant mutt!"
Hitoshi didn't even blink. His wide blue eyes were too busy drinking in the silver statues glowing under the sun. Too focused on the different steed's and nonhuman creatures that were before his eyes.
"…Onee-san," he breathed, still awestruck, "is this really the school we're gonna go to?" He turned towards Eri Onee-san with bewildered eyes.
Eri, who stood just behind them, watching quietly, gave a slight nod. "Welcome to Nightwood Academy," she said gently. "From today on, you will be accompanying Lady Aiko during her time here. Be sure her needs are seen to."
Aiko folded her arms, flipping her long black hair over her shoulder with exaggerated haughtiness. "Obviously."
But Hitoshi didn't hear her at all, instead he blinked. Once. Twice like someone who'd just heard something strange.
"Wait…" he said softly, his voice barely audible above the chatter of the other students. "You said… accompany?"
Eri gave a polite nod again.
"…Do you mean we'll have to stay here... like a boarding school?…"
Eri nodded again though this time a bit forced, a crease on her lips.
The instant he saw her nod, Hitoshi felt as if he was hit by a bolt of lightning.
"…WAIT, WAIT, WAIT—WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'Boarding School'?!"
Hitoshi took a step back, almost tripping on his own two feet, his face rapidly draining of color. "W-we're staying here?! Like… like staying staying?!"
His voice cracked. "You're not coming to take us home in the afternoon?!"
Eri blinked, a rare moment of hesitation flashing in her crimson eyes.
A faint, very faint crease appeared on her usually unreadable expression. Her eyes glancing at the side to avoid his gaze.
Hitoshi saw it. And it was like his heart dropped straight into his shoes.
"...You're kidding," Hitoshi breathed. "R-right?"
He stepped closer to her. "You're not serious, right?" he asked again, his voice pitching higher.
Eri said nothing. That silence dug into his ribs like a cold blade. "You're not… going to leave me here, right? You're not going to just… go?"
Hitoshi whimpered with trembling eyes. Eri finally turned to face him yet she said nothing.
"Onee-san…?" Hitoshi's voice cracked even more, sounding as if he was choking on his tears that began streaming down his cheeks.
Aiko furrowed her brows, annoyed at first—ready to say something sarcastic—but the look on Hitoshi's face made her pause.
His look was strangely familiar, yet not at the same time. She felt it was similar to the one she beared when she received the news of her late father's passing and yet, The more she stared at Hitoshi, the more she felt like there was far more hidden behind his than her's ever had. As if something precious inside him had broken.
Hitoshi's lip quivered. "No... I don't wanna stay here alone. I don't wanna stay somewhere you're not."
He gripped his sleeves tightly. "You—you said I'd serve her, right? I don't care about that but, You didn't say you weren't coming…"
Eri shifted, her mouth parting slightly—but again, no words came.
"Don't leave me..."
" Please, Onee-san–don't go... I'll be better, I promise."
" Don't abandon me, please...." He pleaded again and again and again, over and over, Each time softer more desperate than before.
The world around him had vanished. He no longer saw the gates nor the noble attire's, Or the towering marble pillars of the grand academy. He didn't hear the quiet gasps or the whispers beginning to rise from the crowd.
He saw only her.
Eri Onee-san. His light in the dark. The only lifeline he had ever had, even from his moments in his past life. The one person who didn't sneer, or shout, nor throw him away like trash.
Yet now, that small light in his dark world was leaving, no matter how hard he reached he couldn't grasp it as it went farther and farther away. Allowing his darkness to encroach closer and closer.